External combustion engine

ABSTRACT

A steam engine is provided in which exhaust products of combustion from the boiler are introduced into the power cylinder after the expansion stroke. The exhaust products are then compressed providing a heating step for boiler feedwater circulating about the power cylinder. At the end of compression stroke, steam is injected into the power cylinder to drive the piston.

United States Patent Sorensen 1 Apr. 24, 1973 EXTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE3,552,364 1/1971 Short et al ..123/25 P [/61 Inventor George 589 4951233332; 1311333 iil'flgfj'r'fIIII 11131113372811 O Oreg- 979142,839,888 6/1958 Mallory ..60/1 22 Filed: Aug 2 1970 3,071,921 1/1963Wild ..60/1 X 3,251,183 5/1966 Whitlow ..60/27 [21] Appl. No.: 68,3953,397,681 8/1968 Northrup ..123 90.11 x 3,548,793 12/1970 Richardson..123/90.11 X Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart ofSer. No. 800,200. Feb. 18. E'w"m wr Mamn Schwadron 1969, abandoned 1Assistant ExammerA11en M. Ostrager 52 us. (:1. ..60/39.0l, 60/], 60/3941ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl ..F01k 21/04 A Steam engine is provided in whichexhaust products [58] Field Of Search ..60/1, 27, 17, 39.41, ofCombustion f the il are introduced into the 60/315 3955; 123/25 P powercylinder after the expansion stroke. The exhaust products are thencompressed providing a heat- [56] References C'ted ing step for boilerfeedwater circulating about the UNITED STATES PATENTS power cylinder. Atthe end of compression stroke, steam is injected into the power cylinderto drive the 1,068,414 7/1913 Courtenay ..123/25 P piston, 1,122,77012/1914 Lake...; 1 ..l23/25 P 3,143,850 8/1964 Foster ..6()/27 X 1Claim, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED 24 SHEET 1 [IF 2 W. mm

PATENTED R 3,728,858

sum 2 OF 2 MOT/170R. GEORGE c Jagz/vyffi EXTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINERELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of myapplication Ser. No. 800,200 filed Feb. 18, I969, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is well known that the products ofcombustion from the commonly used internal combustion engineincreasingly menace the health of city dwellers. The variable state ofcompression, heat, chilling surfaces,

variation in fuel compounds, etc., each contribute to the incompletecombustion and various chemical compounding of injurious emissionsthrough the exhaust of these engines; but with all these faults it hassupplanted the once popular external combustion steam engine largelybecause of its superior economy of operation. The conventional externalcombustion steam engines overcome many of the foregoing faults but withpoor efficiency. Lately two large companies have expended vast amountsof time and means striving to improve steam engine efficiency but withlimited sucess. The chief losses are through the exhaust steam andexhaust furnace gas, with radiation from boiler shell, plumbing, enginecylinder and valve chamber condensation and the continuous addition ofcold makeup water to the boiler feedwater contributing further losses.

It may be well to explain makeup water is that water that must be addedto boiler feedwater to replace unavoidable losses when the load isexcessive, through steam leaks, water leaks etc.

OBJECTS OF THIS INVENTION It is a primary object of this invention toprovide an engine utilizing and prohibiting some of the heat lost fromfurnace exhaust, steam exhaust plumbing and engine condensation coolingand reheating required.

It is another object of this invention to capture the hot combustioncompounded condensate for supplying boiler makeup water.

It is another object to provide an engine having a non-toxic exhaust.

It is another object of this invention to provide an engine capable ofusing a great variety of fuel solid or fluid.

It is another object of this invention to lower mean exhaust temperatureof engine thereby improving economy of operation and facilitatingcondensation of combustion compounded condensate.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a simple valvegear of combined magnetic structure and piston valve providing a widelyvariable to no steam,admission time also permitting variable timing thusproviding forward or reverse motion of crankshaft.

It is another object of this invention to provide a steam admissionsystem having the advantage of the conventional Stevenson or the likevalve gear; yet one which snaps valves open and closed at all speedsthereby eliminating fault known as wire drawing which in conventionalsystems lowers the acting pressure in cylinder when most needed.

It is yet another object to provide a means of using combustion gas onlywhen engines vehicle is using the engine as a brake in descending agrade, thereby building" steam reserve by transferring heat ofcompression to boiler water.

It is another object to provide an engine using few cylinders for anysize installation, whereas internal combustion cylinders are limited tocertain sizes unless complicating cooling and ignition.

It is a further object to position this engine in such a maner that thecombustion gas injection ports will be located in that furnace areawhere the reflected furnace heat would be focalized and most intense.

SUMMARY Briefly described the invention comprises an external combustionengine having boiler circulation cooled parts sealably installed withina closeable boiler and furnace and its power takeoff, electrovalvecontrols, condensing system and boiler accessories are sealablyinstalled outside said furnace remote from severe heat. Oiling isaccomplished by injecting oil into the steam just before steam entryinto valve cylinders in the customary maner while oiling the outsidemechanism is accomplished in the customary maner also. The embodimentherein revealed is sussceptible of a wide range of modifications and orvariations without sacrificing any of its underlying principles orsalient features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a combinationassembly and cutaway view illustrating the internal arrangement of theengine in relation to its flash boiler; the external arrangement of thecontrols and a symbolic illustration of condensation and injectionsystems.

FIG. 2 is a stagger cut cross-section of engine parts showing front leftcylinder and piston and the right rear cylinder and piston of a V-4cylinder configuration engine showing steam admission 44 and 40 systemand products of combustion injection ports 24.

FIG. 3 is a cross section showing the relation of the piston valve 40and its opened relation with cylinder 1 also its timed relation toexternal solenoid valve 67 and symbolized contacts 28. I

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the manualy operated controls of the timer17 in relation to the varying width control cam 21 formed on crank-shaft22.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of electrical contacts 28 to be equally spacedaround dielectric timer 17.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of dielectric timer body having a pair ofcontact points 28 equally positioned; one set for each piston valve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION FIG.1 represents a V" configuration four-cylinder two-stroke cycle externalcombustion engine having its cylinders, steam valves, cylinder heads andall gliding surfaces enclosed in the furnace of a flash system steamboiler 7. The cylinders l, 2, 3 and 4 with the cylinder heads and thepiston valve cylinders having cooling passages 9 in communication withboiler circulation tubes bearing the same number 9 for the circulationof boiler water therein. A flange 46 is formed around waist of saidengine and is sealably secured to a gasketed flange 53 on furnaceclosure 6a. Boiler closure is in turn secured by a gasketed flange toboiler shell 7 as at 63. A controllable relief valve 72 is caused tomaintain a closeable furnace while engine is in operation by a spring 74bearing against lever 73 bearing against gasketed valve 72 bearingagainst flanged opening in closure 6a. A latch may be caused to holdlever 73 holding valve 72 in open position while firing up, and releasedto closed position when engine is in operation. A blower l3 forces aproper mixture of fuel and air into furnace 7 and upon ignition bathesboiler circulation tubes 9 and enclosed water cooled engine partsproviding steam and a pressurized combustion process after valve 72 isclosed. Hand wheel 71 with extension shaft sealably extending to throtlevalve 70 causes steam admittance to appropriate cylinder throughcommunicating tube 42 and piston valve 40 as piston 10 descends valve 40closes and as steam expands piston uncovers exhaust ports 46 causingexpanding steam to exhaust into manifold 45 while said combustionpressure blows products of combustion through ports 24 into cylinderdirected by piston baffle toward cylinder head 3 as piston makes itsreturn stroke it closes exhaust ports 46 and from the boiler injectionports 24 capturing charge of said products of combustion which iscompressed elevating its temperature which heat is transferred throughcylinder walls and cylinder head to superheat cooling water in passages9. The valve discussed in the fore-going are controlled by theelectrical system described as follows: FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 illustratethe cylinder valve system; internally relative to the cylinder head andexternally relative to the furnace, showing the hand control of theelectro mechanical gear operation. A dielectric sleeve 17 is formedhaving a cylindrical cavity in its one end and a rectangular boss havingtwo round pivots opposite and protruding outwardly from each otherproviding pivots for yoke 30 of control bar to engage. A bushingedbearing is formed concentric with sleeve 17 in said rectangular bossproviding a rotatable and sliding engagement with stub shaft 22A oncrankshaft 22. Apertures 47 equally spaced, one for each valve, piercewall of said cylindrical cavity around its circumference; a set ofcontacts 28 FIG. 5 are provided one set for each cylinder valve 40comprising a spring steel T bar having a dielectric rubbing block 55secured to its surface at one end and an electrical contact point 3 onits opposite surface; said T" bar is secured at its other end to saidsleeve 17 in such a maner that said rubbing block freely passes throughsaid aperture 47 capable of being caused to spring out-wardly, whenactuated by cam 21 on crankshaft 22, causing electrical contact betweencontact points 23 on said T bar and its companion contact bracketsecured astride said aperture 47 on sleeve 17. Lever 19 has a ball andsocket rotatable engagement with sleeve 17 control bar providing inwardor outward movement of sleeve 17 causing electrical contact engagementvarying from none through brief to prolonged valve opening by action ofvarying width cam 21 on rubbing blocks 55; while actuating lever 18 toand fro provide early or late timing causing counter clockwise orclockwise motion of crankshaft. The closure of electrical contacts 28,as explained cause an electrical circuit 32 from symbolized battery toopen solenoid valve 67 collapsing steam pressure in balanced steam valveat 39; steam pressure in compart ment 39' at opposite end of valve 40causes said valve to snap to open position as in FIG. 3 opening-passage44 admitting steam pressure from pipe 42 to act upon piston 10 asdescribed in the foregoing, As piston 10 reaches top center crankshaftcam 21 again actuates contacts 28 causing another cycle of operationeach cylinders piston performing sequentially in similar order.

In operation, the feedwater to the boiler is circulated about thecylinders to provide a dual function of both cooling and feedwaterpreheating. Steam and combustion products are exhausted from thecylinder at the end of the power stroke, preferably during a period whenthe engine is being used to brake a vehicle, are injected into thecylinder. As the piston returns to top dead center the combustionproducts are compressed thereby liberating heat to the boiler feedwatercirculating about the cylinder. At top dead center, steam from theboiler is admitted to the cylinder thereby during the piston into itspower stroke along with the pressurized combustion gas. At the end ofthe stroke the exhaust mixture of steam and said products of combustionare led to a condenser 58 where the condensate from the said products ofcombustion provide sufficient makeup water" to be forced into the boilerwith the feedwater pump 27.

What I claim is:

l. A power plant comprising:

a boiler for producing steam,

a furnace shell disposed within said boiler,

a burner mounted within said shell for providing a source of pressurizedcombustion products,

an engine including cylinders, cylinder heads and steam valves, a pistonin each of said cylinders and piston rods operatively connected to eachof said pistons,

means for injecting products of combustion from the boiler sequentiallyinto the cylinders at the completion of the power stroke whereby saidcombustion products are compressed as the pistons return to their topdead center position,

means for injecting steam from said boiler sequentially into eachcylinder as the piston return to their said top dead center positionwhereby said engine is driven by steam pressure and the resilience ofthe compressed combustion products concurrently,

means for leading the exhaust mixture of steam and combustion productsfrom the engine to a recirculation system said recirculation systemincluding a means to separate combustion compounded condensate from theexhaust gases said recirculation means further including a means tosupply boiler feedwater with separated combustion compounded condensate,means for leading said boiler feedwater around the cylinders, cylinderheads and steam valves,

whereby said water is superheated by the heat from the gases beingcompressed during the compres sion stroke of the piston said feedwaterproviding a cooling means for substantially lowering the exhaust mixturetemperature.

1. A power plant comprising: a boiler for producing steam, a furnaceshell disposed within said boiler, a burner mounted within said shellfor providing a source of pressurized combustion products, an engineincluding cylinders, cylinder heads and steam valves, a piston in eachof said cylinders and piston rods operatively connected to each of saidpistons, means for injecting products of combustion from the boilersequentially into the cylinders at the completion of the power strokewhereby said combustion products are compressed as the pistons return totheir top dead center position, means for injecting steam from saidboiler sequentially into each cylinder as the piston return to theirsaid top dead center position whereby said engine is driven by steampressure and the resilience of the compressed combustion productsconcurrently, means for leading the exhaust mixture of steam andcombustion products from the engine to a recirculation system saidrecirculation system including a means to separate combustion compoundedcondensate from the exhaust gases said recirculation means furtherincluding a means to supply boiler feedwater with separated combustioncompounded condensate, means for leading said boiler feedwater aroundthe cylinders, cylinder heads and steam valves, whereby said water issuperheated by the heat from the gases being compressed during thecompression stroke of the piston said feedwater providing a coolingmeans for substantially lowering the exhaust mixture temperature.